Against all odds

Chapter eleven Suicide

Elladan was turning the corner to Erestor’s room. Glorfindel had asked him to check on the counsellor. The blond had to go calm the horses down who where making a racket in the stables.

Elladan sighed, the door was locked. He gave some knocks. “Erestor” No answer.

He wanted to turn, obviously the advisor wasn’t there, but something didn’t fell right. It was gnawing at him. Calling himself a fool he kneeled down and started licking the lock. ‘You’ll see, Elladan, the room will be empty and Erestor will be mad at you for invading his privacy’ But still he continued and when he heard the familiar click he rose and carefully pushed the door open.

Just one look around told him enough. He screamed, a scream that alerted all elves in the vicinity, many of them dropped the items they were carrying at the moment. Glorfindel left the horses for what they were and ran towards Elladan’s voice, pushing all others aside.

Elrohir was the first to arrive and join his brother. He gasped in horror. The twins stood in the door opening, glued to the spot, mouths open in shock and horror. Glorfindel hard-handily pushed them aside and saw what upset them so.

There, on the floor lay Erestor, completely covered in blood. Glorfindel quickly went to him. But it was too late, he saw. Erestor had lost way too much blood already.

But still he set to work, cleaning and bandaging the arms. He bellowed orders around. He did not care who would carry them out as long as they were carried out. “Get me water, and lots of clean cloth. Hurry now.”

Elladan came out of his trance and send some servants to carry out the orders. Approaching the scene he saw the note and bent to pick it up. He dropped it instantly. “Glorfindel, look.” Glorfindel now picked up the note and read it out loud:
“Elrond, elyënar raica. Im hatyen. Namárië.”

Glorfindel closed his eyes. Erestor was passing to Mandos’ halls and there was nothing they could do. Or was there? Elrond knew of a way to keep Erestor here, he knew that. But he did not know where Elrond was.

He addressed the twins. “I feel the cold of Mandos on him. There’s not much time. Get your father here. He’s the only one who might be able to keep him here. Hurry boys.”

Elladan ran away, screaming for his horse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having the deer around was a pleasure to Elrond. It kept him company and provided him with much knowledge.

He was now taking a swim in the Bruinen at the advice of his hoofed friend. He had named it Linyenwaer, because that’s what the deer had told him his name was; one who is old. Elrond had of course translated it into Quenya.

They were enjoying themselves. Linyenwaer on the riverbank, grazing and caressed by Arien’s rays. Elrond in the water, splashing around like an elfling. “You are right, sailaer, as usual. This swim is reviving me like nothing could. Diolla le, mellon-nîn.”

Linyenwaer merely continued grazing. But suddenly he jumped up, alerting Elrond of others approaching.

He quickly got out of the water and got the sword. But lowered it when he saw Elladan was riding towards him.

Elladan didn’t wait until he was in front of Elrond but started shouting as soon as he saw Elrond. “Ata. Ata. You must come quickly. Erestor cut his arms. Glorfl sal says you alone have a change of saving him.”

Elrond could see Elladan wasn’t kidding. He growled. His own horse was at the cabin. He and Linyenwaer had walked here. Getting his horse would take precious time away and Elladan’s could not carry them both back at the same speed.

Linyenwaer had understood the urgency and came to stand before Elrond, the way he had seen horses do. It left little to the imagination. He would bring Elrond to the house as fast as he could.

“Are you sure my friend?” As much as he wanted to hurry, Elrond would not risk his new friend’s health. Linyenwaer nodded. He was sure and to emphasise it he nudged at Elrond’s clothes. As soon as Elrond had mounted he took of at top speed.

Elladan had turned his horse and was following. He wondered where this deer had come from and why it was carrying his father, but he knew better than to address this now.

When they arrived at the manor Elrond and Elladan quickly jumped off.

Lindir hurried towards them. “Quickly, my lord, hurry. Glorfindel took him to the Room of Fire.”

“Thank you Lindir, will you please make sure my friend here is comfortable.”

The grooms were giving funny eyes at their lord’s weird mount but under Lindir’s supervision Linyenwaer was led to a box, where he would be combed and fed.

Elrond and Elladan hurried to the Room of Fire, dreading what they might see.

Glorfindel couldn’t be more pleased to see Elrond coming. “Elrond. Bless the Valar. Elladan found you.” Elrond knelt down and took in Erestor’s shape. The cold that emanated from the body made him hiss.

What had happened? Why did Erestor do this? These and many questioore ore went through Elrond’s mind, but he could not voice any of them. Seeing Erestor like this nearly paralysed him. He looked at the blond for answers.

“I don’t know why Elrond. Can you do anything? Can we? We can’t lose him now.” Glorfindel was having a hard time staying level-headed. His voice was shaken and betrayed imminent tears.

Elrond shook his head. This was his fault. They were about to lose Erestor again, because he had not been here to give aid. But then he remembered. “There is something I can do. The process is not so different from keeping a fading elf.”

Elladan, who was now holding his brother, looked at his father in total amazement. What was he talking about? As far as he knew a fading elf could not be saved.

Glorfindel saw his disbelief and addressed him. “It is true, Elladan. A fading elf can be saved. By the one they grief for, who has to forsake all others to save the one who is fading. The other way is for someone to bind to the fading elf.”

Elladan didn’t understand. “Bind. You mean wed?”

“No, Elladan. I will explain later. There is no time now. If we want to keep Erestor here he needs to be bound, isn’t that what you mean Elrond?”

“Precisely. And -I- am doing it. You keep a close eye on Elladan and Elrohir for me. Give me your knife and fifteen minutes before you enter.”

Glorfindel wanted to argue, to say he should be doing it, that it was too dangerous for Elrond, but he saw the determination on Elrond’s face and knew it would be pointless. He got up, gave his knife and took the twins out. He just hoped Elrond was strong enough. Otherwise they would lose him too.

End chapter eleven
TBC

Translations:
Elyënar raica means You are wrong, because:
Elyë means you or thou
Nar means are; comes from the verb ná (is( that’s what the dictionary states, but to is isn’t a verb so I think they mean to be) )
Raica wrong, wicked, spoiled.

Im hatyen means I am broken, because:
Im I
Hat- means to break (verb)
Ye means am or is.
~n is I
The ~n is optional, but I decided to use it because it emphasises the meaning of the sentence.

Linyenwaer means ancient one, because :
Linyanwa means ancient, literally to have many years (said of an ancient elf)
~er means one; as in ancient one

Sailaer means wise one, because:
Saila means wise
~er, see above.
Hodoer also means wise one, but I prefer sailaer, for no apparent reason. I just want to let you know.

Diolla le means thank you